Screenwriter Don Payne is just now beginning to make his mark in the movie world. His first feature, My Super Ex-Girlfriend, hits theaters in July, and he recently finished a draft of Fantastic Four 2 for the fine folks at FOX. But Don has spent several years toiling away in the TV salt mines, from a bunch of quickly-forgotten sitcom failures to his arrival on The Simpsons writing staff.

We originally sat down with Donny P. to talk movies, but c'mon. You try sitting down with a Simpsons writer and NOT bringing up the wonderful town of Springfield. Here's what Mr. Payne had to say about his experiences with Hope & Gloria, Pride & Joy, Men Behaving Badly, and (especially) The Simpsons.